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"yVKAA. BELLE WARREN EDMONDS 
(Mrs. J. f\) 



Copyright 1914 






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DEC 15 1914 

©Ci.AS90tiU4 



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PREFACE 

These thoughts that were gathered 

From here and there. 
If sent to a critic 

Would bring despair ; 
I've written them only 

For friends who care. 

BELLE WARREN EDMONDS. 



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LIFE'S DREAMS 

We dream in the dawn of morning. 

Of wonderful things to be ; 
WeVe close to the Isle of Fancy, 

That lies in a sapphire sea. 

We dream in the garish noon-tide. 

Of honors our sons must win ; 
We drift from the Isle of Fancy, 

*Mid earthly discord and din. 

We dream in the fading twilight. 
Of mansions beyond the skies ; 

The place that an All-wise Father 
Has veiled from our mortal eyes. 

From dawn of light until sunset. 

The Star of Hope ever beams ; 
We enter, through Thoughts and Fancies, 

The portal of Golden Dreams. 



A WINTER LULLABY 

The Ice King rides o*er moorlands wild. 
With frosty Jack, his elfin child, 
By fierce and wintry winds beguiled, 
Slumber, my own, and sleep. 

They hail the storm with frantic glee, 
And lash the sturdy poplar tree. 
And imps of blackest night set free. 
Slumber, my own, and sleep. 

The empty nests that fall below 
Are tossed by tempests to and fro. 
And crushed by weight of Winter's snow. 
Slumber, my own, and sleep. 

Our fire glows warm and bright and red, 
The shadow^s dance above your head. 
And Mother guards you in your bed, 
Slumber, my own, and sleep. 



HER ANSWER 

You write you are now regretting 
The love that you cast aside, 

And left me grieving in secret. 
Concealing a maiden's pride. 

I gave you my choicest treasure, 
The love of a woman's heart ; 

You listened to Slander's w^hispers. 
So now^ w^e forever part. 

You vowed you'd ever be faithful, 

As, tarrying hand in hand, 
And watching the glow of sunset. 

We dwelt in Enchanted-land. 

That sweet June evening will linger, 
The dream of a day divine ; 

I thought that your love was changeless, 
Your heart would be ever mine. 

We parted in tender silence. 
Beneath the great linden tree ; 

The grief of that hour seems nothing. 
How could you so faithless be ? 

You write you are broken hearted. 
And love me beyond dispute. 

But how can a harp give music, 

Whose strings are broken and mute ? 



REVERIE 

O curl of golden-brown hair! 

I see you through hopeless tears. 
And think of the head so fair 

You graced in the by-gone years. 

From shadows a sw^eet face gleams, 
My baby w^ith soft brown eyes ; 

A vision that mocks my dreams, 
A phantom of sundered ties. 



CHILDHOOD MEMORIES 

I watch the glowing sunset sky 

And dream and dream of days gone by ; 

The misty years seem rolled away, 

A vision comes of a child at play 

With lightsome heart and face aglow. 

O haunting days of long ago ! 

She lingers by the shining stream (^ 

To watch the wavelets flash and gleam. 

When bells chime forth the midnight hour. 

Do elves steal out from leaf and flower. 

When all is still, a Summer night, 

To skip and dance in moonbeams bright ? 

The deep ravine and shady nook. 

The mossy seat by the rippling brook. 

Are haunts beloved ; this childish heart 

Sees frisky squirrels 'round her dart. 

And down from topmost bough there floats m 

The happy chirp of robins' notes. \ 

O shad'wy years, you ever stand 

And beckon from that far-off land 

Of golden days so fair and free 

That faithful memry brings to me. 

Forever childhood dreams have flown. 

Like roses winds have rudely blown, — 

But cease, my heart, your sad refrain. 

You ne'er can be a child again. 



UNSATISFIED 

"O, what do robins talk about ? " 
Sweet Dolly asked with baby pout. 
"They chatter in the apple tree. 
But never tell a thing to me. 

You see. 

I hush and wonder what they say, 
It sounds like, 'Dolly, do go 'way.' 
They hop along the bough, then fly ; 
The nest seems almost in the sky. 

Too high ! 

The baby birds are safe and warm, 
For mother keeps them from the storm. 
I wish I were a fairy now, 
I'd rock the nest upon the bough ; 

But how ? 

They look so saucy down at me, 
I'd like to climb up in the tree. 
I have to w^onder what they say — 
It sounds like, 'Dolly, do go *way. 

And stay.' " 



DESOLATE 

The skies have lost their azure 
And put on hues of lead ; 

The flowers have lost their fragrance 
Since one I loved is dead. 

The wind keeps faintly moaning 
Behind the low brown hill ; 

My light of life has vanished. 
The voice I loved is still. 



AN ELF^S MAY DAY. 

A fairy, so wee and roguish. 

Peeped out at the dawn one day. 
And called to a bird (though all woodland 
heard), 

" Awake, *tis the first of May." 

She threw off a rose-leaf blanket. 

And slipped from her mossy bed, 
And tied on her hat ('twas a clover leaf flat). 

That covered her daintj' head. 

She sat and rocked on a blue-bell. 

This whimsical elfin sly. 
And mocked at her face, with an odd grimace, 

In shallow pools nearby. - 

The robins were chirping, chirping. 

On budding boughs o'erhead. 
" The mother-bird begs, ' Don't steal my eggs,' "- 

This mischievous elfin said. 

A butterfly came a-floating. 

She hailed him witli bold design, 
" O come, let us fly 'neath a cloudless sky. 

The day is so warm and fine." 

They flew o'er the sleeping flowers. 

For mom had scarce begun ; 
She drank the dew from a violet blue. 

That peeped at the rising sun. 

Alighting low on a thistle. 

The butterfly paused to rest ; 
This madcap sprite then scampered in flight, 

And hid in a thrush's nest. 

A chipmunk darted before her. 

She chased him under a log ; 
And into a pond, with her magic wand. 

She frightened a pop-eyed frog. 

When noon-tide came, a shadow 

Had clouded the face of Day, 
O'er woods and dell the big raindrops fell. 

On fragile blossoms of May. 



A toadstool sheltered the elfin, 

It grew by an ancient tree. 
She saucily cried, " I needn't hide ; 

You imps, you can't scare me." 

When out came the dancing sunbeams, 
On damp and shivering flowers. 

She romped with a band from the Brownie- 
land, 
Nor heeded the fleeting hours. 

She lingered to share their frolic. 

And drink sweet lavender tea 
From cups they had made, in the woodland 
shade. 

Of acorns, beneath the tree. 

When crimson sunset had faded 
From wood and darkening skies. 

Across the lake the echoes awake. 
To answer her mocking cries. 

At last, in dusky twilight. 

She stood by the flowing brook. 

And sailed away on a leaflet gay. 
For home in a flowery nook. 

She supped on a drop of honey. 

The gift of a friendly bee, 
And stole a drink (with an impish wink) 

From milkweed, stealthily. 

The sly old moon, at midnight. 
Had purposely chanced to peep, 

And saw on a bed which the wild-rose shed. 
This elfin — fast asleep. 

And there in the silent woodland. 
Her candle a fire-fly's gleam. 
The Queen of Fays, after brightest of days. 
Had sent her a wondrous dream. 



MY PLAYMATE 

From out the mists and the shadows 

Of years long rolled away, * 

I see your face, with its old-time grace. 
My w^insome, beautiful May. 

Such happy children together, 
The dewdrops were royal pearls, 

We sat and played 'neath the oak's deep shade, 
And dolls were our baby girls. 

We never could understand, dear. 
When romping in childish plays. 

Why Grandma would say, in her sweet old 
w^ay, 
"You're seeing your brightest days." 

"Oh, no ! " we scornfully answered, 
"They'll come w^hen w^e're ladies fair. 

With satin and lace and powdered face. 
And jewels to bind our hair." 

O dear companion of childhood, 

And idol of girlish years, 
Your eyes beguile, w^ith their old-time smile, 

And Memory brings the tears. 

Away through life's glad springtime 
We danced with never a care. 
Like buds that grow w^here the south w^inds 
blow^, 
Or birds in the summer air. 

Until, one drear March evening, 

I waited with bated breath, 
You floated away, my beautiful May, 

And with 5'^ou the angel Death. 

And left me silent and hopeless, 

To visit old haunts alone, 
And face my life and its future strife. 

With brightest of daydreams flown. 



Now many a year has vanished 
Since, parted so strangely there, 

You come to me, on the land or sea, 
A spirit so sweet and fair. 

But love, we know, is immortal ; 

ril find at the close of day. 
My childhood mate at the Sunset Gate, 

Awaiting me — winsome May. 



TWO LOVES 

Fm not the love of your boyhood, 

But that means little to me ; 
For hearts like yours that are faithful. 

Will love through eternity. 

She came in innocent girlhood. 

And I in the after years. 
When sunlight and shadow mingled, 

And Life had brought hopes and fears. 

Your heart will ever remember 

Her love, so tender and true. 
As fresh and sweet as the lilies 

When wet with the morning dew. 

For she was your springtime sweetheart. 
And came to you in the May ; 

And I in the early Autumn, 
And glow of a riper day. 

I'm not the love of your boyhood. 

For that was never to be ; 
Your love will be strong and steadfast 

For both, through eternity. 



JOHNNY'S LAMENT 

"OK dear !" cried little Johnny, 

"I think it's awful mean, 
I have to play with Sister 

Instead of Tommy Green. 

She never tries to whistle, 

Or even bait a hook, 
When Tom and I go fishin* 

And wadin' in the brook. 

But when we run an' leave her. 

She always w^ants to tag, 
Then Ma comes out and hollers, 

'Now, Johnny, don't you nag.' 

I never had a doughnut 

She didn't beg for half. 
But when I sawed my finger. 

She gave a naughty laugh. 

I found some jolly bird eggs, 
'Twas in the wood near-by. 

But when I tried to steal *em 
She started out to cry. 

I saw a fat old bull-frog 

A-settin' by the spring, 
And put him in her bedroom. 

She squealed, 'You horrid thing !' 

Say, what were sisters made for ? 

Folks call 'em sweet and nice, 
They're 'fraid o' snakes and hop-toads. 

And scared o' even mice. 

Ma calls me 'sure a corker,' 

And says I've got to stay 
And play with baby sister, 

And miss the circus day. 

I'll change my tune, she tells me. 
When I'm a growed-up mister, 

I'll think it's fun to chase f er 
Some other feller's sister. 

Hully gee ! 



ALONE 

A cold gray mist sweeps o*er the pane 

As, looking out on Autumn rain, 

Alone with thoughts and weary heart, 

I watch the light of day depart. 

The sodden leaves that strew the path 

Are telling Summer's aftermath, 

And leafless branches sombrely 

Seem waving spectral arms at me. 

I think of you, as dreary rain 

Is sobbing on the window pane ; 

I long to feel your clasping hand 

And see your face in Shadow-land. 

The w^ash of lonely w^aves ashore 

Seems murmuring, "No more, no more." 

The boughs that drag against the eaves 

Are phantom steps on yellow leaves. 

But only mist I see, and rain. 

From out the dark'ning window pane. 



TO THE FOUR WINDS 

O Winds of the North, blow rough and cold. 
Your song of cheer to sailors bold. 

O Winds of the East, blow fresh and strong, 
0*er sleeping lands your sunrise song. 

O Winds of the South, blow light and low. 
Through spicy woods, where blue-bells grow. 

O Winds of the West, blow soft from skies 
Your even-song where sunset dies. 



RAINBOW AND RAINDROP FAIRIES 

" You*re asking a bed-time story. 

Well, what shall it be about? 
Come nestle closer, my darling. 

While watching the stars come out. 

I'll tell you of rainbow fairies, 

Who live in the far-off sky. 
But patter to earth a-dancing, J 

When fields and flowers are dry. 

Their home is in Cloudland Palace, 

With rainbow cousins they dwell. 
And, seated enthroned among them. 

Their radiant Queen will tell 

How dusty old leaves need washing. 

And brooklets are nearly dry. 
And lovely flowers grow thirsty. 

Then wither and droop and die. j 

With wearying hearts the mortals 

Are watching for sprites to come 
And scatter the pearly raindrops. 

In spite of old Father Sun. 

'It's time for a Cloudland party. 

The rainbow elves may assist.' 
'O come, let us go,' they shouted, 

'We surely are on your list.' 



> 



They fashioned their dainty garments 

Of violet, red and green, 
And some decided on yellow, 

Obeying their royal Queen. 

In silvery veils, the fairies 

Were brimming their goblets bright. 
The Queen flung open the portal. 

And downward they went in flight. 

Wherever fairies alighted. 

They emptied goblets of rain, 

And flowers breathed out their fragrance. 
While smiling their thanks again. 

The sprites had a merry frolic, 
And kissing each bud good-bye. 

Their silvery veils forgotten. 

Were trailing from earth to sky. 

The rainbow fairies were glowing 

With light the dear Sun Father brings, 

And flung o'er the sky an archway. 
With rays from their gorgeous wings. 

The radiant Queen in Cloudland 
Smiled down on the faiiries* play. 

'You'll happier be, my children. 
For blessing the earth today.' " 

I see through the latticed window 

A star's inquisitive peep, 
And, lying against my shoulder, 

A dear little maid's asleep. 



A FIRELIGHT FANCY 

The snow falls fast from a leaden sky, • 

The night is wild and the w^inds shriek high ; 
Before the logs that are blcizing bright 

My fancies rise of maid and knight. 

* * * * 

There idly drifts a tale to me 

Of castle grim across the sea. 

To mould'ring walls the ivy clings, 

And soft the sighing night wind sings. 

The moat, with draw-bridge down below. 

Has oft reflected sunset glow, ■ 

While bells from out a distant tower 

I hear proclaim the curfew hour. 

A grand old forest dark and dim, 

A park that meets the river*s brim, 

Completes a picture fair to see, 

Though many knights of high degree. 

Whose daring deeds had grown too bold. 

Have perished in the dungeons old. 

A maiden in the ancient tower, 

Is gazing at a faded flower ; M 

Regret looks out from wistful eyes. 

And on her face a shadow lies. 

Her knight, whose love was fond and true. 

Had left to sail the ocean blue. 

But now^ he lies in dreamless sleep 

On coral reefs beneath the deep. 

While waves are chanting over them 

His low and solemn requiem. 

The maiden in the tower so gray 

Is grieving youth and life aw^ay. 

And Mem'ry brings their last farewell. 

Their last embrace ; at curfew bell 

He whispered, "Love, be true, be true ; 

The sea will bring me back to you, 

For us the happy winds will blow." 



A list'ning breeze had sighed, "Ah, no ! " 

At casement high she dreaming stands, 

With faded rose in listless hands. 

And sees the glow of dying day 

O'er hill and forest fade away. 

A crescent moon looks down, and seems 

To send this message on its beams : 

"O list, dear maid, the tale is true 

All nature now is telling you. 

His love is yours and e'er will be. 

Death holds it not beneath the sea ; 

From lowly cot or castle grand, 

All mortals pass to silent land. 

But loyal hearts, through faith and love, 

Will surely meet in Heaven above." 



The picture fades as the logs burn low 
And leave a dull red siterglow. 



A BABY 

A dear little smiling baby. 

With eyes that were blue and bright. 
Came down from the Isle of Lx>ve-dreams 

On feathery wings of Night. 

Two hearts had longed for that blossom 

From mystical Baby-land, 
And fondly dreamed and awaited 

A touch of the rose-leaf hand. 

O innocent babe ! You drifted 

To Earth, in purity dressed. 
And, guided by angel whispers. 

Were lulled on a mother's breast. 



IN MEMORIAM 

In hush of deepening twilight, ^ 

As sunset died in the West, 
And soft winds sighed through the tree-tops, f 

We laid him away to rest. 

" O Lord, be our loving Shepherd 

(For now we are sore dismayed), 
Yea, though we walk through the Valley — 

The Shadow of Death," we prayed. 

" For thou art Love and Compassion, 

Thou knowest the better way ; 
O, send a message of comfort 

To sorrowing hearts today." # 

We turned away in the silence. 

With spirits sadly oppressed. 
The evening star gleamed above us. 

And whispered, " God knows best." 



ABSENCE 

O my love, of thee I'm dreaming, 

By the restless, sunlit sea ; 
On the sands the waves are breaking. 

And my heart is calling thee. 

When the shades of evening gather. 
How I long to see thy face. 

And to linger there beside thee. 
In my old accustomed place. 

Dost thou miss me when no footfall 
Lightly sounds upon the stair. 

And the closed piano mutely 
Tells that silence lingers there ? 

Sweet home pictures rise before me. 
As the sunset gilds the sea. 

And Fm coming back, persuaded 
That my heart belongs to thee. 



SLUMBER SONG 

Lady Moon is sailing high 

Like a silver boat ; 
Tree tops rock against the sky. 

Clouds so lightly float. 

Blossoms in the garden fair 
Nod their heads in sleep; 

On the quiet evening air. 
Birdies softly peep. 

Laughing eyes are drooping low. 
Go to Dream-land, dear ; 

In your baby heart you know 
Mother love is neeir. 

Slumber on. 

My dear. 



BOBBYKINS' BED=.T1ME 

Hear that little cricket, 
Chirping by the gate. 

Telling all his cousins 
It is growing late. 

Calling downy chickens. 
Clucks the mother hen, 

Nestling them beneath her. 
Counts her brood of ten. 

Fluffy kitty*s sleeping, 
Rolled up like a ball. 

Tired of chasing robins. 
Deaf to evVy call. 

'Way down in the meadow. 
Hear the woolly sheep ? 

They are ever calling 
For their lost Bo-peep. 

Birdies now are resting 
Till the peep of day. 

Then with chirp and flutter 
Quick they'll fly away. 

Lullaby, my baby. 
Is the song for you. 

Close your drowsy eye-lids, 
Go to Dream-land too. 



BORDERLAND 

I slept and dreamed, in tlie twilight gray, 
ITiat angels beckoned my soul away 

To lands far over a boundless sea, 
Where Dreamland voices were calling me. 

The flowers were blooming everjrwhere. 
Their fragrance filling the balmy air. 

The birds were singing, and o'er the sea, 
The sun was setting in majesty. 

! gazed around in a glad surprise 

At scenes that met my bewildered eyes. 

For here were the loved of Long Ago, 
Whose hands were folded under the snow. 

" O forms and faces of vanished years, 
I've yearned for you with bitterest tears. 

Have I, too, wearied of mortal breath 
And wandered here through the Gates of 
Death?" 

One answered me, with a soft embrace 
(A smile was on the radiant face), 

" We call this Land of the Higher Life, 
Beyond the shadows of earthly strife. 

Our thoughts were with you, and so it seems 
You drifted here through the Gates of Dreams." 

A moment more and the phantom fled, 
And Darkness brooded o'er my head. 

" Not yet, not yet, ere your dreams come true," 
The voice of Duty rang out anew, 
"A work on earth is awaiting you." 



THE FISHERAUID'S DREAM 

A fishermaid sings on the shining sands, 
While mending a net with nimble hands ; 

A wandering breeze from the western sky 
Caresses her cheek while passing by ; 

The sun is shining with mid-day glare 

On driftwood, scattered, bleached and bare ; 

The tide is tossing the anchored boats. 
And dark the tangled seaweed floats ; 

The masts are pointing toward the sky. 
And faintly there comes the sea-gull's cry. 

The weary fishermaid on the sands 
Forgets the task in her listless hands. 

And watches feathery clouds drift by. 
They float and float in a dreamy sky ; 

The white capped breakers roll to shore. 
And beat on the rocks with a sullen roar ; 

And faintly now from beneath the sea, 
A voice is calling, " O, come to me." 

And far below on the shelving rocks, 
A siren combs her sea-green locks. 

" O fishermaid, come and dwell with me. 
Such wondrous treasures lie in the sea. 

We'll roam through caves of coral and gold. 
Where sea-nymphs dwell and flowers unfold. 



And hidden away in nooks and cells. 
Are glistening pearls and rainbow shells. 

So come, my brave little maid, away. 

Where whales are spouting and swordfish play. 

My Palace of Pearl is fair to see, 

A dolphin swift shall bear you to me." 



Then, after a long and thrilling ride, 
She came at last to the siren's side. 

And rested there on a sea-weed bed. 
While golden fishes swam o'er her head. 

The strangest music surged in her ears. 
The siren calmed disquieting fears. 

" 'Tis only the song of winds and waves ; 
They murmur low through the coral caves ; 

The blooming flowers and mosses old. 
Are clinging to rocks covered with mould ; 

Where ugly urchins in waters deep 
With sea anemones crawl and creep. 

The golden palace of Triton stands 

On polished rocks in the gleaming sands. 

Old Neptune long has ruled the waves. 
And many a sailor's life he saves. 

In sheltered nook and quiet cove. 
We'll w^atch sun fishes dart and rove. 

We'll journey where wrecks lie fathoms deep. 
With sailors aboard, in dreamless sleep. 



But why that start and that look so wild. 
No harm shall come to the fisher child. 

The wandering monsters so bold and queer, 
Are friendly to me, forget your fear. 

What mortals never could dream or know, 
Behold ! A thousand fathoms below." 



A rocky cavern, dusky and deep. 
The siren chose to lull her to sleep. 

When all at once, through the ocean's swell. 
The fishermaid heard a far-oft bell. 

She thought of the ships beneath the waves. 
And sailors bold in watery graves. 

She longed to be where the sea-gulls fly 
In freedom under the open sky. 

The cruel eyes of the siren maid 

Were watching — Why was she so afraid ? 

She called to the dolphin in frightened tone, 
A voice can\e mocking, " You're now alone. 

My siren song has lured you from shore, 
So dwell Vvdth fishes forevermore." 

She swam away through a crested wave, 
And left the maid in the lonely cave. 



The fishermaid opened drowsy eyes. 
And stared around in a dull surprise. 



For here was the worn neglected net, 
It lay on the sands — unfinished yet. 

But w^here w^as the siren in cavern deep, 
Whose voice had lulled her to deepest sleep ? 

And w^here w^ere the coral caves and cells, 
The pearls and rainbow tinted shells, 

The great sea-monsters, strange and wild. 
Who told her she was the ocean's child ? 

She saw on the sails the sunset gleam, 
" *Tis well for me — it was all a dream." 



A JUNE TWILIGHT 

Amid the gathering shadows 
Of twilight dusk and sweet, 

I rest in a quiet garden, 
With roses at my feet. 

A wandering breeze comes sighing 
From out the golden West, 

And stills with the roses* incense 
My weary heart's unrest. 

Below me, the silv*ry river 

In silence winds along, 
And faint and far comes floating 

A boatman's happy song. 

I wait and watch in my garden 
The moonbeams' mystic light. 

And peace comes stealing around me 
In shadowy forms of night. 



'^ 



^2^3 78 522 




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